Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling a structure comprising a framing and shell plates spread thereon. The apparatus has (a) a frame clamping device, which consists of a rectangular base, longitudinal girders arranged in parallel on both sides of the base and frame clamping jigs arranged on the base and longitudinal girders to place and clamp each member of the framing in given relative position, and (b) a structure assembling device, which consists of a stand whose top surface is of the same shape as a given outside surface of a shell plate, and shell tensioning jigs attached to the stand, to extend the roof shell plate placed on the stand while aligning the shell plate to proper position on the stand. The framing and shell plate are assembled by crowning the structure assembly device with the shell plate already set on it with the frame clamping device with the framing already set on it, placing the framing in relative position on the shell plate, and welding the shell plate to the framing.

Abstract: A self molding fiberglas to be used for building boats, swimming pools, spas, liquid storage tanks and pipes that eliminates the building of a mold first.

Abstract: A transverseless ship has at least its side portions and bottom portion comprised of a double hull construction which comprises an inner hull plating and an outer hull plating connected together only by transverse bulkheads and a plurality of longitudinal connecting member fixed to the bulkheads. The bottom portion of the ship has a space defined by at least two optionally selected connecting longitudinal members and divided by two horizontal partitions into two upper chambers and a lower chamber. The upper chambers are adapted to pass different fluids therethrough, and the lower chamber is provided with docking brackets each conforming to the sectional shape thereof. With this structure, external forces acting on the ship are delivered from the connecting longitudinal members to the transverse bulkheads to prevent the inner and outer platings from buckling.

Abstract: A multipurpose crew and resupply vessel for use in resupplying off shore installations with men, food and supplies, as well as fuel, water and all of the suplies needed by that offshore installation. The vessel is characterized by a wide, flat boat supporting a continuous precise lift hull structure that rides substantially horizontally in the water with a shallow draft both when loaded and unloaded so as to operate in a very wide variety of types of water and serves as a transfer platform for moving materials, supplies and men from one offshore installation to another and the vessel has fire fighting and other rescue capabilities.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for removing or replacing a ships underwater propulsion shaft in a dry dock and transporting it from the ship to a work area. It has a mobile vehicular frame and a pair of spaced apart main cylinder ram lifts pivoted at their base to the vehicular frame, each lying beneath a primary and secondary shaft support for carrying the shaft to be removed. The shaft receiving and removing means is mounted at the upper ends of said main cylinder ram lifts. Auxiliary tilt cylinder and ram means each having one end pivoted to said vehicular frame and the other end pivotally connected to tilt the main cylinder and ram lifts toward and away from the ships part to be removed from or replaced on the ship.

Abstract: A double-wall structural vessel includes an inner tubular liner and an outer tubular shell surrounding the liner in spaced relation, both the liner and the shell comprising helically curved strips of material, and a continuous and helically curved spacer/stiffener therebetween. The liner and shell are relatively shifted axially such that the shell edges are out of alignment with the liner edges, and the spacer spans contiguous edges at successive turns of the liner as well as at successive turns of the shell, and is secured to the strips as well as to the liner edges and to the shell edges.

Abstract: The method for assembling a complete module of a multideck ship in the assembly location an upper deck section, then lifting it to a height exceeding the height of a first 'tween deck, whereupon the 'tween deck is introduced under the upper deck section and they are joined together.This done, the assembled portion is again lifted to a height exceeding the height of a second 'tween deck, the second 'tween deck is introduced under the assembled portion of the module and joined thereto. Following the indicated procedure the remaining 'tween deck sections are installed and joined in succession to the already assembled portion.

Abstract: A structural vessel includes helically curved inner and outer spaced strips of material each having a plurality of helical turns, with contiguous edges of each two successive turns of the inner and outer strips being seamed together, and a helically curved structural beam disposed between the strips and secured thereto along their turns. A floatable work housing is provided for vessel fabrication, the housing having a sealed opening through which the completed portion of the vessel progressively extends and is floated on a body of water to avoid a need for external supports and bearings.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing boat parts submerged when in use comprises producing a metallic skeleton structure shaped for easiest production by conventional metal-forming methods, and covering this structure in a mold with an adhering layer or coating of a thermoplastic resin or a rubber-based vulcanizable substance. The inner walls of the mold have high finish and the desired streamlined outer shape of the finished product, such as a lower unit of a propulsion system, or a propeller and the like. The coating functionally neutralizes the technologically conditioned and generally not streamlined shapes of the skeleton structure and provides a protection of the skeleton structure against electroerosive corrosion.

Abstract: The invention relates to shipbuilding. A method for assembling a ship hull module comprising a transverse bulkhead section and two pairs of sections perpendicular thereto, consisting in that first the transverse bulkhead section is installed in a horizontal position, then the section of one of the pairs of sections perpendicular to the transverse bulkhead is installed in a vertical position and joined to the transverse bulkhead section. The assembled portion of the module is turned about the vertical axis, the section of the other pair is installed in a vertical position and joined to the already assembled portion of the module. The assembled portion of the module is again turned about the vertical axis, the remaining section of the first pair is installed in a vertical position and joined to the assembled portion of the module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a building panel curved along the major and minor axes which can be manufactured from a plurality of strips of building material each having the same geometric shape. A mold is provided upon which a first layer of geometrically identical strips is temporarily fastened. In a preferred embodiment, at least a second layer of strips is provided over the first layer and bonded thereto by an epoxy adhesive. Because all of the strips have the same geometric shape and can be mass produced and a compound or complex curvature panel can be made at extremely low cost. Additionally, disclosed is the application of such a compound or complex curved panel to the housing and in the preferred embodiment, boat building fields. Additionally disclosed is the method of applying such a panel to the building of a boat hull.

Abstract: A structural vessel includes helically curved inner and outer spaced strips of material each having a plurality of helical turns, with contiguous edges of each two successive turns of the inner and outer strips being seamed together, and a helically curved structural beam disposed between the strips and secured thereto along their turns. A floatable work housing is provided for vessel fabrication, the housing having a sealed opening through which the completed portion of the vessel progressively extends and is floated on a body of water to avoid a need for external supports and bearings.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for removing or replacing ships underwater parts such as a screw from the propulsion shaft or the rudder of a ship in a dry dock and transporting it from the ship to a work area. It has a mobile vehicular frame and a pair of spaced apart main cylinder ram lifts pivoted at their base to the vehicular frame, one lying to each side of the ships part either screw or rudder to be removed. The part receiving and cradling apparatus is mounted at the upper ends of said main cylinder ram lifts. Auxiliary tilt cylinders and rams each having one end pivoted to said vehicular frame and the other end pivotally connected to tilt the main cylinder and ram lifts toward and away from the ships part to be removed from or replaced on the ship.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an assembly for a equipping vessel propelled by nuclear power. In accordance with the invention, a vessel is made in two prefabricated parts (2,3) and a chamber (5) is provided in the part (2). A nuclear reactor block (6) is placed in said chamber before assembling the two parts. The invention applies to building diverse nuclear powered vessels such as ice-breakers for example.

Abstract: A coal fired ship comprising a transverse bulkhead disposed between the rearmost hold in the stern and the engine room and bent or curved at its center portion to project into the engine room and thereby provide a main coal bunker between the hold and the engine room. An interior dead space of the ship is effectively utilized to provide the bunker without reducing the floor space of the engine room or the hold capacity and with the ship maintained in trim although the bunker is disposed in front of the engine room.

Abstract: A shipbuilding complex having a dry dock with a dock adjacent area, and a flooding chamber which is adjacent to the head of the dry dock and communicates therewith. An intermediate gate divides the dry dock into a main part which is adjacent to the water area, and a head part which is next to the flooding chamber. The flooding chamber and the head part of the dry dock make up a two-level docking basin. A method for building vessels in this shipbuilding complex is as follows. The aft end and components of the parallel middlebody are assembled in the dock apron area and successively transferred to the upper floor of the junction chamber, whereupon they are floated to and placed on the lower floor of the docking basin to be then transferred to the main part of the dry dock. The latter is used to join together the aft end and the parallel middlebody components, whereupon the preassembled fore end is joined to these to complete the hull.

Abstract: A tanker vessel for carrying liquid cargoes having a specific gravity which is less than that of sea water. The vessel includes a hull, comprising a bottom and sides, a top deck and at least one cargo compartment. The top deck is located at a distance above the hull bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c), where H represents the distance from the bottom of the vessel to its waterline, S.sub.w represents the specific gravity of sea water, and S.sub.c represents the specific gravity of the liquid cargo. The compartment is filled with cargo to a point below the top deck of the vessel which is located at a distance above the vessel's bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c -0.03H.In another embodiment, the top deck is located at a distance above the hull bottom which is approximately equal to H(S.sub.w /S.sub.c.sbsb.L), where S.sub.c.sbsb.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method for assembling hulls of vessels intended to carry bulk, liquid and gas cargo and comprising an aft end, a parallel middlebody and a fore end. The building berth comprises a main site composed of a rear area and front area and having at least one adjacent transverse lateral area. The parallel middlebody is assembled from two parts. The aft and fore ends are assembled in the lateral area. The two parts which make up the parallel middlebody, and the aft and fore ends then all joined into a hull.

Abstract: A method of assembling middle bodies of vessel hulls for vessels to be used for the transportation of liquid, granular and gaseous cargoes, comprising preliminarily installing, between starboard side and port side D-type modules of the middle body, a deck section, a bottom section and a cross bulkhead outside the place of assembly of the middle body of a vessel hull thereby assembling a complete module. Then the assembled complete module is transferred to the place of assembly of the middle body of a vessel hull and attached to previously assembled and installed similar modules. The volume of the slipway operations is thus considerably reduced, hence the slipway time of the ship building period is cut down.

Abstract: 2. A shock crushable subfoundation comprising a base, a frame member reinforcing said base, an equipment support member, and deformation absorbing means interposed between said frame member and said equipment support member, said means including a universal joint connected to one of a pair of concentric cylinders joined in overlapping relationship by a press fit, whereby said deformation absorbing means are enabled to absorb plastic deformation of said base and said frame member.

Abstract: According to the invention, the building berth vessel support and handling system comprises longitudinal and transverse rows of keel blocks which serve to support a vessel as she changes position. Each keel block, in turn, comprises a support, a lifting mechanism installed in the support, and a housing accommodating a support pad which is shaped as a body of revolution, for example, a cylinder, and rests on the lifting mechanism.

Abstract: A supportive framework is disclosed for a boat having a hull which consists of a flexible plastic skin wherein the bottom frame element of the frame network is tubular and includes a rounded bottom wall which flexes inwardly to absorb stresses upon impact and more widely and uniformly distribute the stresses over the impact area.

Abstract: A method of constructing a welded metal skin boat hull includes forming a framework from transverse and transom frames connected to a margin plate and to a keel and stem assembly, and adjustably bolting to the frames and connecting together, as appropriate, longitudinal and transom stringers, outer surfaces of which are spaced outwardly from frame outer surfaces. Spacing of the longitudinal stringers on the frames divides the hull exterior into narrow longitudinal, non-compound curved regions, corresponding longitudinal hull skin panels being formed from flat sheets to bridge adjacent stringer pairs. Skin panel edges are clamped to corresponding stringers by external fairings adjustably bolted to the stringers, the bottom fairings being shaped as liftstrakes. A transom plate is tackwelded or clamped to the transom stringers. Frames, skin panels and fairings, are adjusted to realign the hull to specifications before welding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermally insulating composite wall for any kind of tank on ships or on land. The wall comprises a self-supporting external wall, a bed of thermally insulating elements secured to said wall at least partially by means of a hardened packing material and a fluid-tight internal lining; said material may notably be a cellular material in contact with all the external surface of this bed and obtained by in situ expansion and subsequent hardening of a deformable product capable of spontaneous expansion which has been previously placed according to a discontinuous distribution.

Abstract: The vessel comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform in spaced relation above the hulls a distance slightly greater than the maximum anticipated wave height. The hulls buoyantly support the vessel in a low draft floating condition with the hulls having free-board. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately half the effective height of the stabilizing columns which is slightly greater than maximum anticipated wave height, to maintain the vessel in a high draft floating condition with the platform elevated above the waterline. The columns stabilize the vessel in the high draft condition about roll and pitch axes. The working platform mounts either a drilling rig or a heavy duty crane or like operational equipment along the centerline of the vessel.

Abstract: The derrick barge comprises a pair of laterally spaced elongated hulls having a plurality of upstanding columns spaced therealong supporting a working platform and a heavy duty derrick or crane in spaced relation above the hulls. The hulls bouyantly support the vessel including its deck load in the floating condition with the hulls having freeboard. The hulls have ballast compartments to submerge the hulls and portions of the stabilizing columns to a distance of approximately one-half the effective height of the stabilizing columns to maintain the vessel in a semisubmerged floating condition with the platform and derrick elevated above the waterline. However, the vessel also may be ballasted or deballasted to submerge or emerge to a greater or lesser extent from the semisubmerged condition such that the distance between the mean water surface and either the underside of the deck or top side of the hull is not less than 0.75 of the mean wave height.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating an offshore structure intended to be installed at sea comprising a support structure and a platform mounted on the structure. The platform is made up of one or more pieces that are floatable in water. The support structure is immersed to a depth sufficient for the portion thereof intended for the reception of the platform to be situated near the level of the latter. The platform is then fixed to the support structure which is then made lighter and brought to the place where it has to be installed.

Abstract: This invention is an arrangement for easily removing a kort rudder ring from the hull of an oil drilling rig for examination of the bearings from time to time. The housing of the lower rudder ring pintle bearing is quickly removable from the outside by a diver, so that the ring can be dropped from its upper bearing housing, moved rearwardly, and lifted by lifting tackle to the surface. Thus examination can take place while the rig is still working at sea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a working method of breaking up a ship, particularly a large ship, and is characterized by cutting the hull to shorten the length thereof as it is floating on the sea, and more particularly characterized by, on the cutting of the hull, inserting a buoyancy body under the stem portion or the stern portion to trim the hull and floating up said portion and locating there a marine workshop, drawing the hull into the marine workshop while performing breaking up the hull. According to the present invention, it is possible to break up a hull without special harbor facilities and even at locations such as the lee of island and other position where there is no harbor facilities. Also, since the hull is drawn in the marine workshop and broken up to shorten the length of the hull, the working is greatly simplified compared with a prior method wherein the hull is broken up to shorten the height thereof, and as a result the working period can be shortened.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a maritime assembly comprising the steps of stabilizing a foundation raft alongside a quay, moving at least a part of an erect tower structure from the quay onto the foundation raft, securing the tower structure to the foundation raft, and floating the assembly so formed away from the quayside site. Additionally a particular method for fabricating a tower structure is described, and a particular foundation raft and a method of constructing such foundation raft are outlined. The method of the invention is not limited to particular method for fabricating the tower structure, or the particular foundation raft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method wherein a pair of frame members each having four jacks and placed one upon another are provided with other jacks which are horizontally movable to change the relative position of the frame members, and the jacks are suitably operable sequentially to provide the frame members with a capacity to be moved freely within a dock, whereby a propeller or rudder for a large ship is held between a pair of scaffolds provided on the frame members and the article is then conveyed to the desired place and mounted in the desired position of the ship.

Abstract: A tubular pylon secured to a deck is provided with a core telescopically and slidably received in its distal end. In securing the deck to the hull, a well is provided in a shoe to be received in and secured to the hull. Glue is inserted in the well and applied along the intended glue seam between the deck and hull. The deck/pylon assembly and hull are then assembled to be clamped in a jig. During assembly, the core acts as a plunger to force glue in the well of the shoe upwardly about the outer surface of the pylon to secure the pylon to the shoe. The core is frictionally held by the pylon to exert a desired force in holding the shoe against the inside of the hull while the adhesive sets to secure the shoe to the hull and the deck to the hull.

Abstract: A support is forced to be extended between a longitudinal member of a hull block clamped between a movable jaw and a fixed jaw on the one hand and another longitudinal member located adjacent to the first mentioned longitudinal member so that the load exerted to the clamping device when the hull block is lifted as well as the reaction force exerted to the support may force the movable jaw against the longitudinal member to firmly clamp it between the movable and fixed jaws. The longitudinal member is so firmly clamped between the movable and fixed jaws that it is not released even when the hull block is lifted in the vertical position.

Abstract: A ship's hull block consisting of a skin plate, and longitudinal and transverse members fastened thereto by tack welds, is erected in the upright position so that the flat, strength welding of the joints or intersections between the longitudinal and transverse members may be carried out.

Abstract: At least one ship building berth space is provided on the ground adjacent to a dock facing open water. When a ship is built in the berth space, temporary partitioning walls are set up in a manner surrounding the berth space and the dock, and water is supplied into the area surrounded by the walls to cause the ship to float off the floor of the berth space, whereby the ship can be floatingly moved into the dock and then can be launched into the open water.

Abstract: A construction and launch barge having a shallow draft hull with a construction deck supporting at its center a floatable offshore structure both during construction thereof and during the towing of the barge to the site where the offshore structure is to be installed. In order to maintain stability, a plurality of hollow column stabilizers are provided on the barge; these may be, e.g., four, one adjacent to each corner of the barge and extending up high thereabove. A ballast compartment helps determine the desired waterline of the vessel, a mechanism being provided to displace the water therein by air or to displace the air by water. The column stabilizers are sufficiently high and occupy sufficient area for assuring the proper location of the metacenter of the fully loaded barge.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling hull modules for shipbuilding comprising two opposed chassis for supporting longitudinal assemblies and opposed second devices for supporting deck and bottom assemblies, all being constructed to be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions to adjust the position of the respective assemblies. The chassis is supported on cars by a plurality of interconnected oil cylinders adapted to enable the chassis to float on the oil in the cylinders and to permit both tilting and lateral displacement of the chassis on the cars.

Abstract: A deck structure is assembled on a base structure which extends upwardly out of a body of water and is supported on the bottom of the water body. The deck structure is separately constructed as a self-supporting horizontal unit at a building site such as a pier, and floating barges are provided for supporting the deck structure outwardly of the building site. The deck structure is thereafter transferred to the base structure by means of the barges.

Abstract: A method of building ships wherein a middle building area whose ends may be bounded by means of a pair of detachable partition gates is provided inside an openends type dock, whereby after a stern body of each ship has been constructed in the middle building area the stern body is moved into one of the building areas which are defined on both sides of the middle building area and in which the entire length of the ships can be constructed, and a middle body and a stem body are constructed extending from said stern body in the building area to build a completed ship.

Abstract: Building equipment for a hull comprising a hull joining stage having a bottom surface level flush with the ground level of the site; a stern building stage having a bottom surface level flush with that of the hull joining stage, provided at a longitudinal end of the hull joining stage so as to be adjacent thereto through a gate; a bow and parallel body building stage having a bottom surface level flush with that of the hull joining stage, provided at the other longitudinal end of the hull joining stage so as to be adjacent thereto through another gate; a pond having a bottom surface lower than that of the hull joining stage, provided longitudinally in parallel with and adjacent to the hull joining stage on the water side, a longitudinal end of the pond being open to a body of water through still another gate; cranes travelling linearly along the hull joining stage, the stern building stage and the bow and parallel body building stage; and partition walls higher than the ground level and the level of the body